[quote]Teledin wrote:
[quote]scj119 wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
Miami got owned in the second half last night… but Chicago was en fuego from the field in the second half. They wont be able to keep shooting like that every game though.
I think Dallas beats OKC. Dallas has had lots of good squads over the years but managed to somehow to choke in the playoffs. I think this will finally be their year to play up to their potential… Unless Wesbrook puts up double digit assists throughout the series I dont see them pulling out the series.[/quote]
Man, everyone sleeping on OKC. DAL will have a much tougher time guarding KD/RW than MEM did. I think Ibaka is better suited to guard Dirk than Pau.
No way it goes less than 6 or 7 - but I got OKC here.[/quote]
No one is sleeping on OKC. You can’t make a comparison between OKC/DAL and LAL/DAL series anyway because LAL were completely off their game. Only things you can take from that game is that DAL played the pick and roll well and that their perimeter shooting was incredibly efficient. Which is no surprise with Terry, Kidd and Dirk putting up wide open 3’s.
Just like when people were saying MIA were going to smoke the Bulls (not specifically speaking in this thread) because they ran through PHI and BOS. Not accounting for the fact PHI are a good team who doesn’t match up well to the Heat, and that BOS were worn down, injured and barely scraped through against NYK. Also no consideration was given to CHI under performing against IND and ATL who actually match up better to the Bulls than the Heat do.
Its given, people will bandwagon. 
Anyway I completely agree, OKC and DAL series will go to 7 games. Both are deep teams, and consistent teams. I’m just giving DAL the edge since they are better rested, have shown 6 straight games now they can play tight D and rotate the ball extremely well not giving up too many cheap turnovers as they did earlier in the season. Whilst OKC are coming off two hard fought DEN and MEM series. In saying, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if OKC win the series.
I’m looking at the Mavs to do the same as they did against the Lakers. Rotate the ball, work the pick and roll and try and win it on the mid to long range like they have been doing all season while playing the same tight D they played in the LAL series and G5 and G6 of the POR series. OKC will continue to look for Durant and Westbrook will keep doing his thing. It will be a pretty average scoring series in the 90 - 100 range and a close one at that.[/quote]
That’s going to be the key I think, rebounding and turnovers. If OKC can get out in transition they are too quick for the Mavs to stop. If the Mavs can keep it a half court game and execute their zone, they will win easily.
Also the Harden vs Terry matchup (I think I maybe read that OKC is going to start Harden though?). If the Mavs play matchup zone on Westbrook, Harden is going to get open looks that he needs to knock down, assuming Westbrook shows up and not Chuckbrook.
